What does it take to guide scientific research and higher education at one of the world's best young universities?
In this inspiring conversation, we speak with Professor Pamela Habibović, Rector Magnificus of Maastricht University and co-founder of the MERLN Institute for Regenerative Medicine in Maastricht, the Netherlands.
The conversation touches on many turning points in her career: international research experiences, mentoring and leading scientific teams, building and shaping the MERLN Institute, and transitioning from hands-on research to academic leadership. We also discuss how to foster innovation, guide large organizations, and connect research with education and societal needs.
Beyond leadership challenges, Pamela reflects on the evolving role of women in STEM, the value of meaningful publishing, and the importance of celebrating milestones. She shares insights on how to build diverse and creative teams and maintain purpose and impact in large academic institutions.
This interview reveals an academic leader who has not only advanced science but also guided institutions and people – bridging research, education, and societal impact.
If you want to learn more about the institutes mentioned in the episode, please follow the links below:
MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine – https://merlninstitute.com
Maastricht University – https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro to Biomed Unleashed
00:28 – Meet Prof. Pamela Habibović: Rector Magnificus of Maastricht University and co-founder of MERLN, the Netherlands
01:11 – Let’s dive in
01:24 – From Bosnia to the lab: the childhood moment that sparked her love for science
01:56 – A home filled with minerals and the beauty of curiosity
03:04 – The Philippines internship: seaweed, heavy metals, and an unexpected discovery
04:48 – A power outage that changed everything – when serendipity meets science
05:27 – From technician to scientist: the desire to be involved in the full research process
07:01 – What are osteoinductive materials and why they matter in medicine?
09:18 – “Your project is terrible, but you’re in.” The rejection that changed her career
11:12 – Life in Boston: brilliant minds, extreme competition, and key lessons learned
14:18 – Doing a PhD in a company versus a university: two different worlds
15:52 – McGill University: how the Canadian system compares to the US
17:21 – Why she returned to Europe after her North American experience?
18:17 – Mentorship and moonshots: lessons from Clemens van Blitterswijk – a pioneer in tissue engineering
20:51 – The call that started it all: founding the MERLN Institute for Regenerative Medicine in the Netherlands
23:03 – Building MERLN from the ground up: challenges, vision, and people
24:58 – Rethinking how to organize research: not by organs, but by technology
26:16 – Beyond bone: instructive biomaterials for organoids and tissue regeneration
27:47 – Advice on how to grow as a scientist
30:14 – Publishing for meaning, not for metrics: why content matters more than numbers
34:07 – Why many great ideas stop at early stages and how to bridge that gap
37:21 – The missing link in academia: connecting research with real-world needs
39:43 – Taking leadership at MERLN: from pioneering chaos to sustainable growth
42:16 – The power and challenge of diversity in science
44:45 – Becoming University Rector Magnificus: doubts, motivations, and a vision for change
47:16 – Discovering the bigger picture at the University
52:58 – Building bridges between disciplines: Brightlands and Global Studies examples
54:53 – Advice to her younger self: pause, reflect, and celebrate the milestones
56:56 – Women in STEM: what has changed and what still must change
01:01:02 – Her proudest scientific achievement
01:02:05 – What would she do if not academia – a surprising answer
01:02:55 – Closing thoughts and reflections
01:03:03 – Biomed Unleashed Outro
Netherlands